Verily I am Thy servant, O my God, and Thy poor one and Thy
suppliant and Thy wretched creature. I have arrived at Thy gate, seeking Thy
shelter. I have found no contentment save in Thy love, no exultation except in
Thy remembrance, no eagerness but in obedience to Thee, no joy save in Thy
nearness, and no tranquillity except in reunion with Thee, notwithstanding that
I am conscious that all created things are debarred from Thy sublime Essence
and the entire creation is denied access to Thine inmost Being. Whenever I
attempt to approach Thee, I perceive nothing in myself but the tokens of Thy
grace and behold naught in my being but the revelations of Thy loving-kindness.
How can one who is but Thy creature seek reunion with Thee and attain unto Thy
presence, whereas no created thing can ever be associated with Thee, nor can
aught comprehend Thee? How is it possible for a lowly servant to recognize Thee
and to extol Thy praise, notwithstanding that Thou hast destined for him the
revelations of Thy dominion and the wondrous testimonies of Thy sovereignty?
Thus every created thing beareth witness that it is debarred from the sanctuary
of Thy presence by reason of the limitations imposed upon its inner reality. It
is undisputed, however, that the influence of Thine attraction hath everlastingly
been inherent in the realities of Thy handiwork, although that which beseemeth
the hallowed court of Thy providence is exalted beyond the attainment of the
entire creation. This indicateth, O my God, my utter powerlessness to praise
Thee and revealeth my utmost impotence in yielding thanks unto Thee; and how
much more to attain the recognition of Thy divine unity or to succeed in
reaching the clear tokens of Thy praise, Thy sanctity and Thy glory. Nay, by
Thy might, I yearn for naught but Thine Own Self and seek no one other than
Thee.
- The Báb (Selections from the Writings of the Báb)
